Bass Dude

I'm not trying to put a damper on your project, but in the long run, is the price really worth it when all is said and done. The time, the money for repairs and parts...isn't it cheaper in the long run to buy something in better shape?? I think it's great that you have the knowledge and the capability to take on this project, as I have neither, but it seems to me that it would be easier and possibly safer to buy something in better shape. Good luck with it, and can't wait to see the finished product.

I know it's off topic....but why are there so many d**n hunting shows on. Everytime I go to Versus or Outdoor channel it's GD hunting show!!!

Best: My best friend when I was ten years old "Go fishing with me, you'll love it!" Worst: After a couple decades of fishing and lots cash spent....My best friend when I was ten years old "Go fishing with me, you'll love it!" I thank him everyday for giving the gift of fishing. I don't know how my life would be without fishing and I don't want to find out.

You'll need plastisol, glitter, scent, coloring, molds, salt, heat stabilizer and something to melt your plastic in. The most common things used for melting are a pyrex measuring cup and a microwave, a lee pot or a presto pot. Look at lurecraft, bears baits, netcraft and you can get prices on all this stuff. I'm sure the guys that sent PM's have told you the same thing, but I thought I would add my 2cents! The best website to learn about lure making is tackleunderground. Not to take anything away from BR, but that site is dedicated to tackle and rod making.

I think someone asked this before but I couldn't find it in my search. How long do trolling motor batteries last? Also, if you take good care of it, how long does a trolling motor last before it looses power?

I don't understand how a bass will "dislodge the hook out himself" as the article states. Does he use his hands!!!!

I use Calhoun too....it works great for me and I agree that is a really good price. He was also correct in telling you to get heat stabilizer and gloves too. The HS will make it so the plastice doesn't scorch and of course safety should be a concern, i.e. the gloves. That stuff is HOT and sticks to skin giving it a lot of time to do some damage to your skin. I would also recommend getting some scent, glitter and color too...Bear's will have all that you need. Once you start...you're in trouble. You think you buy a lot of lures....wait until you see all your options when you make your lures!!!

Water temp is much more important than air temp. What's the current water temp??

You can get chatterbait heads from lurepartonline too...i think! If not there I saw them on Barlows website. They come with an open eye and you just put the blade through the eye and bend it closed.

I know this isn't the reason you posted this but....this is the problem with the TSA and their check-in...inconsistency!!!!

I do believe that FLW lets you wear your sponsors as well as FLW. Luke Clausen is sponsored by Megabass which isn't an FLW sponsor. I've seen Kistler on a couple shirts too. I think they are becoming more open to that.

The only thing bad I've heard about the E-Tec is that if something does go wrong, they tend to be more expensive than other motors to get repaired. The reason for this is that there is special equipment that is needed to diagnose and repair these. And ALWAYS have it repaired by a licensed E-TEC facility.

I have heard nothing but rave reviews on those rigs. Above the handling and comfort, I've heard that you get all the bells and whistles included in the pricing. And they have thought of pretty much everything you could ever need or want in a bass rig. And...since they aren't affiliated with a motor company, ie. skeeter, you can get any brand of engine you want. I saw one at the federation tourney last year, it was beautiful!!!!!!!!!

I'm not asking if he would---I agree that he wouldn't. I'm curious to see peoples opinions on how the sport might change if he did. Would it change other fisherman's opinions of FLW etc.

Being a racing fan...I was thinking of Danica making the move to NASCAR and what that may do to the sport and that organization. What do you think would happen if KVD ever went exclusively to FLW??

There are a bunch of other posts about this topic so--take a look for those on here too. My opinion...I don't know if I get more bites, but when I've one red and one black nickel hook on a crankbait, the fish for the most part hit the red. It's happened way too many times for it to be a coincidence. I feel they are attracted to the hook once it goes after the bait, but I don't think they go after the bait any more or less than they would have if I didn't have a red hook. I also use a red worm weight with my texas rigs too. Not sure if it makes a difference, but I have more confidence with the red weight. I also saw a show with Ken Cook that swears by having one red blade on his spinnerbaits. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me--so I make a lot of my spinnerbaits with a red colorado as the first blade. Again, not sure if it makes a difference, but it's a confidence thing.

I think it's very interesting how one's "crap" color is someone else's go-to color. That's what makes this sport awesome, and at times frustrating!! I have caught tons of fish on a red shad worms. My color is junebug....I use it and never catch anything on it. I've seen people in the same boat as me catch them on it and I know people that use it successfully and have all the confidence in the world in junebug, but I do not. I have them, but rarely use that color.

I mold mine on the renewal cards you get in magazines. Once you're done with your creation, you can peel the paper off the back and not ruin your lure.

A great example of this is Super Bowl. If you notice on TV shows and commercials they can't use the term Super Bowl, they always call it 'The Big Game'. NFL has that title trademarked....oops...I just got fined!! Another example would be the Chatterbait. That's only from ZMan, all others of this type are called something different.

Unless I'm missing something they didn't say you couldn't use the word 'rig', you can't call it an "A-Rig". I don't have an issue with it, companies spend a ton on getting the legal rights to a name and it should be enforced if others use it, as it is breaking the law. They are not stopping people from making the contraption, they just can't call it an Alabama rig or an A-Rig. It's called business people, and business is about making money. Selling and making lures is a business....get over it!!!

I make a very small amount of plaster and use a small toothpick or a very small eyeglass straight end screw driver and fill in all the bigger bubble holes. The smaller ones will fill in when you seal the mold. I just use straight elmer's glue for sealer, some like to use a mix of water and elmer's. Your lure looks good, but one thing I noticed, and this isn't a knock on your creation, but the arms are a bit thick and may not have much action. In my trial and error, the use of thin "arms" will give you more action. Take a look at a Paca or Craw Pappy and check out how thin the arms or pincers are. Again, this is no knock on your design, but something I've found out in my many attempts.

I make my own and have never had problems with normal use and abuse. Terminator makes some good baits with the titanium arms.

I started liking Bass Edge too. If I'm reading the site correctly, I believe they are having webisodes on their site.

Our club is kind of in a "turn over" period where some of the more senior members are leaving and we are trying to get some new members. What have some of your clubs done to get new members to join? We have a website and have posted that we're looking for new people, but it has had limited results.

There is a lot of information on this forum that should answer most of your questions. Also, tackleunderground.com is the best forum around for all types of lure building.